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Tsholotsho Gukurahundi victims demand apology

Published

2 months ago

November 25, 2024

BY NIZBERT MOYO

A Gukurahundi survivor Hlanganiso Sithole (76) from Sikhale line in Matabeleland North’s Tsholotsho district still bears the scars of the torture he endured at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

Sithole said his three brothers were shot dead in June 1984 while he managed to escape from the firing squad.

“There were four of us where we were seated at one of the family homestead,” he narrated the events of the day

“Soldiers approached us and accused us of being dissidents. During that process one of my brothers, Oscar, had gone to the toilet while they were interrogating us and by the time he came back they attacked accusing him of being a dissident…

“While we were still shocked, they started firing. My three brothers were killed instantly.

“I survived through the grace of the Lord because I could not believe it was me but God’s hand, at play.”

He is one of the many survivors of the 1980’s Gukurahundi massacres demanding answers for the torture they endured at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

In July this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched the Gukurahundi outreach programme in Bulawayo where he said the program would be led by the chiefs.

The programme has failed to take off amid indications that a budget for the exercise has not been released.

Some of the victims told Southern Eye on Sunday that they want an apology and compensation before they can die due to old age.

A visit to Tsholotsho on Wednesday by Southern Eye on Sunday revealed that the majority of villagers are still traumatised by the torture, rape and killings.

“These people were killing anyone whom they come across with, even the police were telling us that they are afraid of them because they could be killed as well,” Sithole claimed.

“I am an innocent man, I need compensation.”

An elderly woman said she has not overcome the trauma of rape at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

“I still recall that it was on a Monday, “ the woman who cannot be identified by name for ethical reasons said.

“They tortured my husband and left him for dead.

“They found me putting on a maternity dress which I was given by my youngster who had given birth.

“One of the soldiers was stopped by his colleagues after he tried to spear my stomach with his bayonet accusing me of bearing a dissident in my stomach.”

He husband succumbed to the torture injuries, she said.

“One of the soldiers raped me and continued coming to me every day at night,” she said.

No definitive death toll has been established but the late Robert Mugabe’s Fifth Brigade, trained by North Korean instructors, is estimated to have killed up to 20,000 people between 1983 and 1987.

Mnangagwa is accused of being the architect of the killings as he was State Security minister at the time.

SOURCE: SOUTHERN EYE

Hwange

Victoria Falls man appears in court for rape of 13-year-old girl

Published

1 hour ago

January 27, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Victoria Falls man was arraigned before the Victoria Falls Magistrates Court on charges of raping a 13-year-old girl.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the alleged incident occurred on October 10, last year, at around 7 pm, at a house in Chinotimba Township.

The accused allegedly entered the complainant’s bedroom while she was alone, forcefully undressed her, and raped her.

After the assault, he threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident to anyone.

The matter only came to light on January 12, when the complainant confided in her aunt about her ordeal.

The case has been remanded to tomorrow.

Hwange

Victoria Falls man jailed for defying protection order, threatening ex-wife’s life

Published

1 hour ago

January 27, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A Victoria Falls man has been sentenced to ten months in prison for violating a protection order and threatening to kill his ex-wife.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the man breached the protection order by visiting his ex-wife’s home, where he threatened her with a knife and hurled vulgar insults.

The court heard that the protection order had been issued to protect the ex-wife from her former husband’s abusive behavior.

However, the man flagrantly disregarded the order, putting his ex-wife’s life in danger.

In passing sentence, the magistrate emphasized the seriousness of violating protection orders and the need to protect victims of domestic violence.

Nkayi

Selumile uhlelo lokwakhiwa kwedamu leZiminya eNkayi

Published

2 hours ago

January 27, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Sokumile ukwakhiwa kwedamu elikhulu leZiminya, eNkayi ebelisakhiwa nguhulumende ngenhloso yokwenqabela uhlupho lokusweleka kwamanzi esigabeni lesi.

Lokhu sokudanise izakhamizi ebezilethemba lokuba zizasebenzisa amanzi ekuthuthukiseni indawo le, obekuzasungulwa inhlelo ezitshiyeneyo.

Izakhamizi lezi zithi abakhi bedamu leli abeZimbabwe National Water Authority labasebenzisana labo o- contractor, baqala ukususa imitshina yokugebha, izimota kanye leminye imitshina ngenyanga kaLwezi kungelasizatho esatshelwa inkokheli yesigaba kanye lezisebenzi.

Sixoxe loMnumzana Jeffery Sibanda owake wasebenza eZiminya ngokwenzakalayo, othi kakucaci ukuba umsebenzi uzaqahubeka nini, njalo ngokuna kwezulu, imbundu yedamu leli eTshangane isiqala ukudilikela.

“Imitshina ababeyisebenzisa ayikho. Akulalutho eground kule foot roller eyodwa eyafayo.”

UMnumzana Lameck Dlamini isakhumuzi seMenda uthi ulokudana ngohlelo lweZiminya, ngesizatho sokuba amanzi aluhlupho eNkayi.

“Mina kimi kubuhlungu ngoba nginje ngikhangela izifuyo ezilapha ngendlela osekudilizwe ngayo amadlelo le eTshangane kuphinde kungasaphutsha okuyinto kwakhona khathesi lezulu kalikho labo sebefukue umhlabathi akuselandawo zamadlelo kithi sokuyi loss lokhu.”

Sixoxe njalo lokhansila kaWard 28, uMnumzana Norman Ndebele, laye othi basemnyameni ngokwenzakalayo ehlelweni lweZiminya.

“Abantu laba baphuvala bengasitshelanga saphungubona bethutha impahla behamba ukuthi basivalelise lathi sasesibuza izisebenzi bathi kuthiwe sikhangele mhlaka 29 December batshiya kunjalo.”

UNdebele uthi idamu leli belizaletha intuthuko kuzulu weNkayi.

“Idamu lelui ngalikhona indlala yonke le esiyibalayo, konke esikubalayo nga kakukho. Ama irrigation bavulile kuma ward so nxa ama irrigations la engasebenza ubuyanga bendlala obulapha bebuzaphela.”

Unobhala webhuku lako Liver Khumalo, eMenda, uNkosikazi Sitshengisiwe Sibanda, uthi labo basemnyameni ngokwenzakala eZiminya.

“Ithemba asiselalo ukuthi bazabuya beqhubekele phambili, kusiphatha kabuhlungu kakhulu izakhamizi bezisebenza edamu sezibuya zihlala. Sifisa ukuthi liphumelele idamu sithole ukusila bekuzasincedisa ngoba labantu abasasebenzi.”

Isiloyiso sika Dlamini yikuba idamu leli lakhiwe. “Nxa abantu bezafelwa zinkomo baphinde baswele umsebenzi kanti bazaphila ngani ngoba inkomo ziphelile ngamathambo wodwa.”

UMnumzana Richard Moyo, ohola isabelo seMatabeleland North, uthi uhulumende ubengaselamali yokuqhubekela phambili yokwakha idamu leli.

“Hanstho uyabona ukuthi even le Gwayi-Shangani dam bekumile but kuma disbursement of 2025 l think iZiminya bengayifaka u-contractor ngeke ahlale kungaselamali ngithemba ama project la azaphiwa kuphele.”

Ngokutsho kweziphathamandla zikahulumende ezikuhlangothi lweTransport and Infrastructure Development, idamu leli kanye lezinye inhlelo ezigoqela ukuphehlwa kwamagetsi le irrigation, lizakwakhiwa ngezigidi zamadola eMelika ezedlula kancane ikhulu lamatshumi amathathu amadollar – US$132 million.

Idamu leZiminya ngelesibili elakhiwa nguhulumende kusabelo seMatabelelend North ngemva kweGwayi-Shangani Dam yona layo ekhangelelwe ukwenqabela uhlupho lwamanzi kubahlali bakoBulawayo lezinye izagaba eMatabeleland.

Uhlelo lweGwayi-Shangani lwasungulwa ngomnyaka ka1912 lwaphinda lwathathelwa phezulu yiNational Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.

SOURCE: VOA